Nigeria is once again grappling with a chilling wave of school kidnappings, a crisis that has left parents terrified, communities devastated, and the nation’s educational future hanging precariously. In the wake of recent abductions in Kebbi and Niger States, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a scathing attack on the APC-led Federal Government, accusing it of a fundamental failure to protect its citizens and demanding that President Bola Tinubu either seek help or honourably resign.
At a press briefing held Sunday in Abuja, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, laid bare the opposition party’s deep concerns. He argued that the repeated kidnappings vividly expose the government’s inability to manage a worsening security crisis, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
The Looming Threat: School Closures as ‘Surrender’
Perhaps most alarming is the administration’s reported contemplation of closing schools in affected states. The PDP vehemently opposes this measure, branding it a complete “surrender” to terrorists. “We warn that this closure, if undertaken, like many of this administration’s quick-fix approaches to serious governance issues, will amount to a complete surrender to terrorists, whose sole aim is to shut down schools and prevent children from obtaining formal education,” Ememobong stated.
This strategic retreat, the PDP warns, would only exacerbate Nigeria’s already dire educational deficit. UNICEF reports that the majority of Nigeria’s staggering 18.3 million out-of-school children reside in the North. Closing more schools would not only deepen this crisis but also further disincentivise education, trapping generations in a cycle of illiteracy and vulnerability.
A “Lacklustre and Unempathetic” Response
The PDP expressed alarm at the Federal Government’s slow and uncoordinated response to multiple kidnappings occurring within a single week. Ememobong described the presidency’s approach as “lacklustre, unempathetic, and politically motivated.”
A particular point of contention was President Tinubu’s decision to delegate the response to the Minister of State for Defence rather than personally visiting the affected communities. “Instead of the President visiting Kebbi and Niger States to meet and sympathise with the parents of the children who are in captivity, and to address the security personnel there, he merely directed the Minister of State for Defence to relocate to Kebbi,” the PDP spokesperson criticised. Such actions, the party implies, signal a detachment from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
Education at Risk, National Standing in Peril
The long-term implications of prolonged school shutdowns are severe. Ememobong stressed that time lost due to insecurity would deepen educational inequality and significantly damage Nigeria’s global academic standing. “Examinations will not wait for security. So these children are either going to lose one term, lose two terms, or lose a year. Time lost can never be regained,” he explained, highlighting the irreversible damage to students’ academic progression and future prospects.
Rebuilding Trust and Seeking Help
Beyond criticism, the PDP also offered a path forward. The party called for the government to fully fund and implement the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools, which relies on community intelligence and rapid response systems. Ememobong lamented the collapse of trusted community-level intelligence, which has left many areas vulnerable. He urged a return to stronger cooperation between citizens and security agencies, emphasizing the need to comprehensively address these issues from the ground up.
Regarding international assistance, the PDP stated that the decision ultimately rests with the government. However, they insisted that President Tinubu must acknowledge if his administration is overwhelmed by the security challenges. “If they feel they are overwhelmed, let them tell us… Normally, we have the international partners who can help. But if you do not invite them, you can become a local meddlesome interloper if you seek to help,” Ememobong explained.
The Ultimate Charge: Act, Ask for Help, or Resign
The PDP’s message to President Tinubu was unequivocal and direct: “At any time, government is unwilling, unable, or incapable of executing this primary role, such a government must either ask for help (locally or internationally) or honourably resign, if it is sincere and responsible.”
The escalating school kidnappings are more than just security breaches; they are an assault on Nigeria’s future, threatening to derail education, deepen poverty, and erode public trust. The PDP’s stark warning serves as a powerful reminder of the immense responsibility placed on the government to protect its citizens, especially its most vulnerable – the children. The time for decisive action, or a candid admission of limitations, is now.
